Photo: Automedia
BMW’s current cheapest car, the 1 Series, is about to get a fresh face, when celebrating its fourth anniversary, next spring. The Life Cycle Impulse for the F20 platform is set to start production in March 2015 and we’re hoping for more than just technical updates.
Don’t get us wrong, new engines and new tech sound good too but if there’s one thing we’d change about the 1 Series, that’s its exterior design. While round the back things are rather ok, up front, those googly eyes make it look absolutely dreadful.
Judging from out spyshots, these two areas are actually the only ones that will get any kind of love from the designers. If round the back, the bumper looks basically the same as on the current model, up front some changes are barely noticeable. Unfortunately, the headlights are the same, which would mean that BMW won’t get rid of them. Not now, not too soon either.
The big changes will come under the bonnet though. Since the 1 Series was designed as a budget car (if that’s even possible over at BMW) the new B-family engines will be introduced on them after being used first on MINI models.
The 120d and 125d model will also get new engines, EU6 compliant, going by the codename B47. You could recognize them from the facelifted X3 that is already using them.
The M135i, the car seen in these photos, will keep on using the N55HP engine until July 2016. At that point it will also be replaced with a B58 unit that’s also more powerful and efficient. At the same time, the 120i and 125i models will get the B48 engine, a 2-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged unit that will be replacing the N20 used today.
Judging from out spyshots, these two areas are actually the only ones that will get any kind of love from the designers. If round the back, the bumper looks basically the same as on the current model, up front some changes are barely noticeable. Unfortunately, the headlights are the same, which would mean that BMW won’t get rid of them. Not now, not too soon either.
The big changes will come under the bonnet though. Since the 1 Series was designed as a budget car (if that’s even possible over at BMW) the new B-family engines will be introduced on them after being used first on MINI models.
New engines coming in November
First, the old PSA-developed 1.6-liter diesel engines on the 114d and 116d will be taken out of production, in November 2014. They will be replaced by the B37 units found on the One D and Cooper D models. Making 95 HP and 220 Nm of torque or 116 HP and 270 Nm of torque, the two 3-cylinder 1.5-liter engines are more efficient than the ones they are replacing and EU6 compatible.Production of LCI 1 Series to Start in March
After this first step, when LCI production starts in March, next year, we’ll get to see some new petrol engines as well. The B38 units will be introduced on the 114i and 116i while the 118d will get up upgraded version of the B37 diesel. All of them are 3-cylinder 1.5-liter units with up to 40% interchangeable parts.The 120d and 125d model will also get new engines, EU6 compliant, going by the codename B47. You could recognize them from the facelifted X3 that is already using them.
The M135i, the car seen in these photos, will keep on using the N55HP engine until July 2016. At that point it will also be replaced with a B58 unit that’s also more powerful and efficient. At the same time, the 120i and 125i models will get the B48 engine, a 2-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged unit that will be replacing the N20 used today.
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